233 dead, 900 injured in massive train tragedy in Odisha

Over 200 people were killed and 900 were injured when a passenger train hit the derailed coaches of another train in Odisha's Balasore Friday evening. A third freight train was also involved in the accident, Odisha Chief Secretary PK Jena told NDTV.

The crash, one of the deadliest in India in recent times, involved the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, and a goods train.

Citing the latest report, Odisha Chief Secretary said the death count stands at 233, while around 900 people were injured in the accident that occurred in Balasore district, about 250 km south of Kolkata and 170 km north of Bhubaneswar, around 7 pm on Friday.

The rescue operations are on and all hospitals in the nearby districts have been put on alert. Three NDRF units, 4 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force units, over 15 fire rescue teams, 30 doctors, 200 police personnel and 60 ambulances have been mobilised to the site, Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep told NDTV.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has declared one-day state mourning  in view of the horrific train crash.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw tweeted to say that that air force has been called in to help with rescue operations.